ANDOVER residents are being asked to have their say on designs that will guide the future redevelopment of Andover town centre, covering everything from street furniture to the use of spaces for events.

The Andover Public Realm Design Guide will help ensure that any development in the town is carried out to a high standard and will be used to determine whether to grant permission for planning applications.

It looks at how people should move through the town, pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, traffic calming measures, event spaces, street furniture, building materials, and the integration of facilities such as electric vehicle charging points.

READ MORE: Planning applications submitted to Test Valley Borough Council

The document has been produced by NEW Masterplanning, who also created the masterplan for the redevelopment of the town centre.

The design guide is available at testvalley.gov.uk/andoverpublicrealmspd and people have until 12 noon on 3 February to submit their feedback. 

Once the consultation has closed, NEW Masterplanning and Test Valley Borough Council will review the feedback and make any changes to the designs before putting the document forward for formal adoption.

Council leader Phil North said: “For the masterplan to be successful it is critical that we set out the standards we expect any new development in Andover to meet. The Andover Public Realm Design Guide starts to give people a flavour of the quality we are looking to achieve in the town centre. As I have said many times before, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right and we will leave nothing to chance.

“I would urge people to review the document and share any feedback they have.”

SEE ALSO: David Borrett's column: Studying an 1864 Andover photo

The council is also waiting to hear the outcome of its bid for £18.5m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund to accelerate delivery of the masterplan.

If successful, the money will be used to deliver a stunning riverside park along Western Avenue, transform the riverside footpath south of Bridge Street, demolish the former magistrates’ court building, and create a spectacular new cultural hub in the town centre which would include the relocation of The Lights theatre.